Chances are your favorite look, the one that makes you feel like a knock-out, consists of colors that shimmer and shine and are best suited for a night on the town. So, how do you make your nine-to-five look one that is both office-appropriate and still a complement to the “real” you?

This doesn’t have to be such a departure with more and more companies adopting business casual attire. Shimmer is more acceptable with a comfortable sweater or stylish top than a starched, grey business suit. But even in a casual office, less is more when it comes to cosmetics that shine. Start by choosing the feature you most want to accentuate.

Eyes

No matter what job you do, you talk to someone during the day and that means eye-contact. If your goal is to climb that corporate ladder you want to be taken seriously, but not at the expense of loosing the zip that makes you YOU.

Two appropriate ways to add shimmer to your eye wear are as a highlight shade and a lid and lower lashline shade. As a highlighter, shimmer is incorporated into the palest color you use and swept along the browbone. This helps lift and brighten the appearance of your eyes. Complement highlight shimmer with modest crease and lid shades that are darker than your highlight shade and range from pastel to bold depending on your skin’s tone and complexion.

As a lid and lower lashline color, shimmer is more prominent, but still suitable for the workplace. Choose a highlight shade in a soft, matte tone and a matte crease shade slightly darker than your shimmer color. Apply shimmer along the lid and from the outer corner to the mid-point of your lower lashes to blend the effect. When applying to the lids, your shimmer color should never be the darkest shade on your face. It should accentuate your eyes without drawing attention to them. Choose pale ocean blues and soft greens. Stay away from vivid, bold colors. Choose colors that complement, not clash. Use liner and mascara to blend your look. Choose a matte or soft shine lip color.

Lips

When using shimmer or frost in your lip color you want to play up your smile without drawing so much attention to your mouth that no one remembers what you’ve said. Choose a lip color that flatters your matte eye color palate. Keep earth tones, pinks and jewel tones separate. Begin by lining your lips with a moisturizing liner and fill-in completely. Blend using a clear lip balm as frosted lipsticks tend to be drying. Apply either a matte lipstick and a shimmering gloss or a frosted lipstick and a clear gloss. Blot to set. Reapply clear balm or gloss throughout the day and after lunch because although your lip color may be gone, the glitter can stick around in creases and fine lines.

Shimmer on your cheeks or your T-zone is never appropriate work wear. Avoid powders, bronzers and blush with light-reflecting particles that are visible when standing as close to a mirror as you would to your boss.

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